“Hi, Mom. Are the kids doing OK?” Jill asked as she pushed open the door.

“They’re in the kitchen having a snack.” Susanna smiled. “We had fun today.”

Jill took a deep breath and raised her eyebrows hopefully. “Would you mind watching them a couple more hours then? I need to shop for the party next week.”

Susanna glanced at her watch. “I need to visit Grandma this afternoon. It’s getting late. She looks forward to my coming, and I don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Oh, Mom, you can see her tomorrow.”

But Susanna knew her presence was the highlight of her mother’s day. She’d missed yesterday too.

“Honey, I love being with the kids, and I want to help, but Grandma needs me. Tomorrow I can watch the children while you shop. Then maybe you could stop and see Grandma afterwards too.”

Sandwiched between younger and older generations, it’s difficult to find balance. While we recognize the importance of pouring our lives into a future generation to shape their minds and hearts, we sometimes fail to appreciate how older parents thrive on attention from their family. Our busyness shouldn’t crowd out those who once poured themselves into our own lives.

Some people, on the other hand, feel overly obligated to their parents. The playfulness of young children seems frivolous by comparison. Consequently, they neglect to do Jesus’ bidding to “let the little children come” (Mark 10:14). Pray for balance in showing faithfulness to each generation, and don’t forget to nurture your husband and yourself as well.